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Harm Reduction not Enhancement

answered 08:27 AM EST, Mon November 26, 2012
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anonymous anonymous
A lot of countries really support pill testing and even give out little kits at dance events so people can be sure they’re taking something that’s safe, if they choose to take drugs. I’m Australian and it blows my mind how stupid US polices are on harm reduction. Why should anyone want to see people get hurt if they choose to take drugs? I was hassled and threatened with arrest and deportation just for having a tester on me last week at a club. Do you experts agree with this kind of harm ENHANCMENT approach?

Jim LaPierre Says...

Not sure if you're truly asking a question or making a statement here. Harm reduction models have been shown to be effective in some areas - what you're asking about seems more ideological than pragmatic. To keep it simple, I don't approve of any approach that helps people to continue using drugs, but I recognize that regardless of policy and law that people will do them. I am in favor of harm reduction models like needle exchanges because they limit the spread of disease. Testing substances to identify what they really are? Sure - I'm good with that. I reason that it's better to know what one is putting in one's body than to not know. A lot of addicts I've known simply call the Poison Control or a local pharmacy to identify a substance and this is legal.

What "experts" believe, what public policy dictates and what law enforcement practices are often not congruent. To be critical of US policies on drug abuse makes sense to me - we've been losing the "War on Drugs" since its inception.

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Page last updated Nov 26, 2012

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